One year, no wheels

It's hard to believe, but it's officially been a year since I took this beauty off the road...

...and we went down to a one car household. My original plan was to have new wheels by spring, but as a few months went by, I'd changed my mind and decided to stick it out a while longer.

I think the transition has been more difficult for Dave than me. He's had a car since he was 15. I was 22 when I finally got around to getting my license (spurred on by him). And other than the first year we were together, we've always had our own vehicles. And... when it comes to cars, Dave doesn't really share well.

I get it. I totally do. I was extremely possessive of all my cars. I hated letting any one else drive them. I was very picky about who got to monkey around under the hood. Hell, I didn't even like going to a full serve gas station. So I totally understand Dave not being thrilled about handing over his keys. Honestly, I'm not thrilled about it either... we have VERY different taste in cars. I like small and sporty, he like HUGE and Grandpa-like. As such... his car is a Buick Regal.

And, since Dave works throughout the week, and unlike me, can't do his job from home (nor take any sort of transit to it), the  Buick is really only available to me on weekends.

Which means I've put a lot more miles on these bad boys

And spending so much time on foot (and transit) really changes your life. Not just in the obvious ways.

Outings have to be planned, right down to the minute, if you don't want to be caught waiting another half and at the bus stop for the next bus.

Shopping excursions also have to take into account what you can physically carry. It's amazing what I can get into my granny cart, but you still have to pull that sucker home (or up onto a bus!) I also invested in a backpack, but again, you're still physically responsible for whatever you put into it.

But there are definitely some upsides...

There's the obvious financial savings. No car payments, no gas bill. No repairs! Though that savings is not quite a much as you'd think, because transit (mainly our regional GO transit) is quite pricey.

While I haven't lost any weight with all that walking (chalk it up to poor diet mostly),  I haven't gained any either. I have also been able to get off the pain killers I've been taking for my chronic back pain. All that movement has helped more than I could have possibly imagined.

I go places I avoided driving before. Fairs, festivals, farmers markets...even heading to big ol' Toronto... all places that are a total pain to get to in a car (parking, traffic, cost)... the bus and train take a little longer but it gets me there without the stress.

You see things you just don't notice when you're whizzing by in a car. Dogs in yards, bunnies in parks, butterflies flitting from garden to garden (and some of the gardens around here are amazing!)

That said.  I do miss having my own wheels.  I actually love to drive. So, over the next few months, I'll be working on getting a few debts squared away, and then I'll be looking around for a new girl to love. If I'm lucky, maybe even something like this...